Conventional Mortgage
A mortgage requiring a substantial down payment. It is usually only available to those having good credit, and has fixed monthly payments for the life of the loan. It usually has a 30 year period of fixed interest rates discharged on an amortized basis with equal monthly payments. The term conventional refers to a mortgage that is not FHA-insured or VA-guaranteed. Since there is no third person or entity to insure or guarantee the mortgage, the lender assumes full risk of default by the borrower. A lenders decision to make a conventional mortgage is usually dependent upon: (1) the value of the property being used to secure the debt and (2) the credit and income position of the borrower. As more and more conventional mortgages have been made, the loan to value ratio (relationship between the amount borrowed and the appraised value of the property) has continued to increase, even though most lenders still limit the amount they will lend to no more than 80% of value unless private mortgage insurance is carried. This down payment required is higher than with either VA or FHA loans. As the market price of residential real estate has continued to increase, a larger cash down payment has been required of the borrower, and thus many people have been eliminated from financing with a conventional mortgage. With both guaranteed and insured mortgages, people have been able to purchase real estate with a smaller cash down payment.
Popular Real Estate Terms
Assemblage in real estate is the process of combining multiple small plots of land into one larger plot. This is accompanied by plottage, which is the increase in value that occurs when ...
An upper limit on the interest rate that can be charged in a variable rate mortgage over its life. For example, a variable rate loan is initially offered at 7% loan rate, and its interest ...
Looking for an amortization definition? Amortization is an accounting term that basically means something like “reducing the gap between what is owed”. Here’s the play by ...
An individual, educated, trained, and licensed in the principles of designing structures, and rendering drawings, specifications, bidding requirements. ...
Those factors causing the movement of people, industry, and business from the central city to the outside central city areas, suburbs, and/or small cities. Elements of the dispersing force ...
Another residence in addition to the main residence where a person or family resides. An example is a second home out of the city used on weekends and during vacations. Interest and real ...
Lien which is over and above a first lien. A second lien is subordinate to the first lien and can be satisfied only after the initial lien is satisfied. ...
Projecting structure or part of a building. For example, a home was built with balconies jutting out from the sides of the building or a large rock formation constructed out into the ocean ...
An obligation of the owner of property that is recorded with his permission such as a mortgage. Encumbrance on property without being objected to by the owner. ...

Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.